Chapter 15: Pigskin

Wakka lay on the bench in the locker room groaning loudly. "Great job Wakka." I said happily.

"Thanks. " He said smiling at me.

"Yuna's back safe and sound. We're in the finals. Life is pretty darn sweet." I patted his shoulder gently and he groaned.

"Hey Yuna," He said, "Don't go near the Al Bhed anymore. They're trouble. All right, the next game is about to start." He said, standing, still clutching his stomach.

"Am I on the bench?" Botta asked.

Wakka looked at the faces of his teammates and smiled, "I'm on the bench." He said, putting his hands on Tidus's shoulders, "He's taking my place."

"Don't you have something to tell them?" I asked.

"Oh yeah. After this game, I'm retiring. Win or lose…I'm done with blitzball. But since we're here, we might as well win, ya?"

"Cap'n!" The Aurochs yelled together.

"All right boys. Let's make those Goers goners!" I said, completely stealing Wakka's thunder, "Let's find our seats Yuna. You coming Lulu?"

She stepped from behind Wakka, "Yeah…I'll be there in a second." She said.

"Oh I get it. Come on Yuna." I said leading the way.

We found empty seats in the front row. People were already cheering loudly and the game hadn't started yet. The Goers and the Aurochs swam into the sphere pool. Jimma announced the Goers lineup and the crowd went crazy. Only a few fans could be heard shouting when he announced the Aurochs lineup. And I was the loudest. "ALL RIGHT AUROCHS! KNOCK THEIR BLIPPING BLOCK OFF!" I shouted standing on my seat. Yuna looked up at me, "Man, you're embarrassing." She said.

But I didn't care. I was going to yell till my voice was hoarse. "KILL, KILL, KILL! Show me some defense!"

Lulu joined us a few minutes later, "What I miss?" she asked sitting down.

"Nothing really. The game just started." Yuna answered.

After two minutes, the score was tied, 2 to 2. Tidus had the ball and he was swimming rapidly toward the goal. Bickson took a cheap shot and rammed Tidus against the side of the sphere pool, which should've been a foul. That really got my adrenaline going, "OH come on Ref! Are you blind! Call the foul! That's cheating!"

"Shut up Siry!" Lulu hissed, "Besides, Tidus still has the ball!"

He managed to break to Graav and Abus. He swam forward and kicked the ball. It soared through the water and scored the goal. "The score was now 3 to 2. With the Aurochs in the lead!" Jimma announced, "It is such a surprise to see the Aurochs playing so well."

"Right Jimma. This new recruit, Tidus, is really making game play tough for the Goers. He should be turning heads for the recruiters this season."

The first half ended with the Aurochs leading 3 to 2. I was ecstatic; I actually wanted to do the wave. "We're gonna do the wave!" I shouted to the people behind me. "Copy me!" I began doing the wave and the people actually copied. Yuna giggled and joined in. Soon the whole stadium became a ripple of arms doing the wave. People in Spira are such sheep. But it was actually kind of fun. "It seems one fan has gotten the crowd going!" Bobba said, and my face became plastered on the sphere screen. I smiled and waved to my image and the crowd erupted in cheers. The second half began and the fans began going crazy. In the first two minutes, Tidus had scored and Bickson scored twice bringing the scores to 4 to 4. Lulu finally stood up from her seat and began cheering with us. But after several minutes I could hear a faint chant, "…Wakka…Wakka…Wakka…" The crowd wanted Wakka! What the heck, I'm a sheep too. I began chanting Wakka's name too. Tidus must've caught on because well, he left the sphere pool and Wakka appeared several minutes later. The crowd cheered loudly and began doing the wave again. Okay once is okay but twice is just lame. They began blitzing again. Graav had the ball and he took a shot. I crossed my fingers and hoped Keepa would catch it. He didn't, but he did manage to knock it away. Letty caught the ball and swam through the opening, avoiding Balgerda. He chucked the ball at Wakka who caught it. He swam toward the goal and broke to Graav. Then he kicked the ball. It soared through the water and into the goal just as the timer hit 5:00. "The Aurochs win! The Aurochs win!" Jimma announced excitedly.

There was a man standing beside me. I jumped onto his back and yelled happily, "WHOOOOO! We won!" I don't think he minded because he was yelling too. The only thing missing was the big container of Gatorade to pour over Wakka's head. However, our victory was short lived when fiends began flooding into the stadium. "Oh no!" Yuna said softly.

"Everyone run!" Lulu ordered as a fiend tried to attack a lady. Lulu blasted it back with a fire spell.

"Yuna… get ready to heal some of these people!" I shouted punching a dingo down into the concrete.

I looked back at the sphere pool and noticed Wakka and Tidus fighting Sahagins. This is just great. Lulu and Yuna ran off to help some of the injured people escape. I began running, not really paying attention to what was in front of me. I collided with someone's back. Auron looked down at me and smirked. "Still haven't learned any manners have you?" he asked me.

"Auron! Where have you been?" I demanded jumping to my feet.

"That's none of your business." He said turning to face an armored fiend. I raised my fists but he put his arm out in front of me, "This one is mine." He said. He drew his BIG sword and pulled his arm free from his coat. Oh yeah…I remember this scene. It's my favorite one. Auron smirked and instantly defeated the monster. "Auron that was soo sweet!" I said smiling.

He put his sword away, "I know." He turned around just as Wakka and Tidus ran up to us.

"Auron…" Tidus said.

"Sir Auron…" Wakka said in amazement.

"So you do know him." Tidus asked looking over at Wakka.

"Heck yeah! He's only the best guardian who ever lived." he said.

"As much as I would like to finish this lovely reunion, I think we're about to become bird food!" I shouted pointing into the sky at the garuda flying rapidly toward us.

"I can take that one out, ya." Wakka said firing a Dark Attack at the monster, blinding it.

"Siry, Tidus attack it now." Auron ordered.

"Yes Sir!" I said happily. We attacked at once and the Garuda fell from the sky. Auron swung his big sword and cut the garuda in half. It exploded into pyreflies. But even more fiends began pouring out of nowhere. I looked up at Maester Mika's box. Seymour was standing there. He began summoning his Aeon, Anima. The Aeon appeared and began wiping out the fiends with her attack, Pain. Anima was one of my favorite Aeons and seeing her up close and personal like that was so awesome. "Excuse me! Maester Seymour sir!" I shouted running up to the box.

He looked down at me, "Yes?"

"I love you to bits and please don't get offended but I think your Aeon's broken."

"And what makes you think that?"

"Because man, it cries blood. What's up with that?" I demanded.

"You are so embarrassing." Tidus whispered grabbing my hand and leading me away from him.

I blew Seymour a kiss and he looked at me strangely. What can I say? I have a thing for bad guys with noticeable hair. I mean I also love Kuja from Final Fantasy IV and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII.

I was standing in the town square listening to the scatter chatter. "Wasn't Maester Seymour's Aeon amazing?" One passerby said.

"They should forget about the fiends and investigate how the Aurochs won the game. That was so amazing." I heard another say.

Ahh, they're just jealous. That's when I noticed the Luca Goers sulking. "Hey guys what's up?" I asked walking over to them.

"Aren't you with the Besaid Aurochs?" Graav asked.

"I don't play blitzball but I am a fan if that's what you mean. But I gotta admit, I saw the way you guys hustled out there and it made me think you'd make awesome football players."

"What's football?" Bickson asked turning to me.

"Oh it's a cool sport. Actually it's kind of like blitzball. See what you do is…Crud I don't have a football…" I tapped my chin thoughtfully then a wonderful idea blossomed in my head, "HEY Fayth!" I shouted into the sky. And just as I had hoped, time froze. "Yes?" he asked stepping up behind me.

"I know I saw a football in my bag, do you mind if I trade my slingshot for it?" I asked holding up my slingshot.

"Are you sure? I won't do this again."

"Positive. Please and thank you." I said as my book bag appeared in front of me once more. I dug through it and located my football. I handed the slingshot to the Fayth. "Have fun with it and don't shoot your eye out." I said winking at him.

Time returned to normal and Balgerda spoke next, "Well? You where saying?"

"Oh right." I tossed the football to Graav and continued, "That's a football. Now you're going to need eleven players…hmmm." I spotted the Kilika Beasts and Ronso Fangs standing near the café. I ran over to them and asked them to join us. They really didn't have enough for two teams. So I went and found the Aurochs standing in the locker room. They joined up too giving us plenty. "All right…" I began assigning positions and when that was done I just had to give them team names.

"Why can't we keep our names?" Datto asked.

"Because you don't play for the Aurochs anymore. Hmm…" I circled the team rubbing my chin thoughtfully, "I know you should be The Elements and the other team can be The Mages." I clapped my hands at my achievement. I was so excited, "Okay, let me explain the rules and then we can pick a place to play." I had just finish when Tidus walked up. "Auron says he wants to speak with us." he said.

"What about us?" Keepa asked.

"Meet me on the Mi'ihen Highroad, at the Travel Agency. I'll set you up then." I said as Tidus began leading me toward the dock.

He walked over to Auron and just exploded, "Hey you don't just stand there! All of this is your fault! Getting swallowed by Sin! Not being able to go back to Zanarkand! Everything, everything!" he shouted grabbing hold to Auron's coat.

"Hey you can't talk to Auron like that." I said.

But Auron didn't seem to mind, because he started laughing. It was soft at first but it steadily grew louder and louder. "Who are you?" Tidus demanded, "You knew my old man didn't you?"

Auron smiled, "Yeah."

"And Yuna's father?"

"That's correct."

"No way! That's just impossible!"

"Nothing impossible about it." He replied, "Ten years ago, Jecht, Braska, and I- together we defeated Sin. Then I went to Zanarkand, where I watched over you. So that when the time was right, I could bring you here, to Spira."

"Why me?"

"Jecht asked me to."
"Is he alive?" Tidus asked softly.

"Depends on what you mean by alive." Auron said looking out over the water, "But I did feel something of Jecht there in that shell. Didn't you? You must've when you came into contact with Sin." he turned and peered over at Tidus. I looked back and forth between the two men. I wasn't sure what this had to do with me but I wasn't about to leave and miss all the juicy bits. Speaking of juicy…I popped a piece of gum in my mouth and began chewing.

"What do you mean?"

"Sin is Jecht." Auron said affirmatively.

"…No. No way! I don't believe you!" Tidus shouted.

Auron looked at him and shrugged his shoulders, "I don't care. It's the truth. Come with me."

"And if I say no?" Tidus said turning his back to the guardian.

"Fine. Come or don't come. It's your decision."

"Oh come on Auron. You and I both know it was never his decision." I said jumping down from the box I was sitting on, "We all know the only way to get answers is if we come with you."

Auron looked at me almost as if he had forgotten I was there. He walked over to me and his good eye stared hard into my eyes, "I know all about you." he said simply.

As much as I love Auron, this was kind of creepy. "O-okay." I stammered.

He smiled slightly, "Of course I didn't expect something like that."

Oh no…how did he find out? Wait, what did he find out? Did he know I wasn't from Zanarkand or Spira? Oh well better play along before he decides to throw his sword on my face. "You won't tell anyone will you?" I asked.

"Who would believe me? Come. I'm going to offer my services to Yuna." He began walking away, leaving Tidus and me behind.

"What was he talking about?" Tidus asked standing beside me.

"Your dad is Sin."

"You know that wasn't what I meant." He answered looking over at me.

I shook my head, "I'll tell you later." I said running to catch up with Auron.

The other party members were standing on the outskirts of town waiting for us. "…I think I'll go see him." I heard Yuna say as we approached them.

They gasped when they caught sight of us with Auron. "Sir Auron!" Yuna said performing the prayer.

"Yuna, I wish to become your guardian do you accept?" he asked.

This earned more gasps from the party. "Do you refuse?" Auron asked.

"Oh no, no! We would love to have you with us right everyone?"

The group murmured in agreement. "But…why?" Lulu asked.

"Because he got tired of baking cookies. Come on Lulu what difference does it make?" I asked throwing my arms up in disgust.

Lulu glared at me. Hey it's not my fault she's asking dumb questions. Auron shook his head and walked over to her, "These two come with us." He said pointing to me and Tidy. "So where are we headed?" he asked.

Yuna tugged on Tidus's arm, "Hey come with me." she said.

Wakka and Lulu went off to a corner of the bridge together. Kimahri and Auron just stared out over the overhang. "Well I guess I'm all alone." I said sighing and sitting on a bench.

"I hear talking to yourself is bad." I heard a voice say.

I smiled and looked up, "Hey you." I said to Gippal.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked sitting beside me.

"Oh waiting for my party members. They're over there." I said pointing to the others standing near the steps.

"Is…is that Sir Auron?"

"Oh you know him too?" I asked looking over at him.

"He's only the best guardian ever! Man I'd kill to meet that guy." He said, making the obvious hint.

"So anyone on your hit list?" I asked teasingly.

"You're not going to introduce me?" Gippal asked looking down at me with pretend sad eyes. Or eye rather.

I smiled, "Syopa cusatyo." Translation: Maybe someday

"Cruel. Simply cruel." He said laughing. We were silent for several minutes before I spoke again.

"The Final Crimson Squad exercise is starting soon isn't it?" I asked lowering my head.

Gippal's smile widened, "Yep. And I plan on passing."

I nodded, "Yes but…please be careful." I said slowly.

"Awww does that mean you really do care?" he said in a teasing tone.

My voice remained serious, "No. That means I love you." Wait did I just say that out loud? No…no I can't take it back either. I didn't mean to say that then. I wanted to wait…Crap on a stick! Gippal looked at me as his face flushed. He opened his mouth to speak but Paine appeared, "Gippal! We've got the chocobos! Let's go!" she called from the top of the stairs.

Gippal stood and left without even so much as a goodbye. Well that didn't go well at all. But that's what I do. I meet a nice guy then run him off because I freak him out. Please someone tell me: Why is my life so lame?